Dear N3WBI3,
"To me its more a principle thing... Do we want to tax production or consumption? thats really what this is about, Am I to be punished for working harder and making more money? or should my monetary contribution to society be with what I spend, not with what I make?"
That sounds almost like a moral principle.
To me, there is nothing inherently immoral in an income tax.
I DO think that it's immoral that government at all levels exceeds 1/3 of our economy.
But as I've said before, to me, re-distributing how you collect it is nothing more than playing musical chairs, or rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.
That this would be passed into law and take effect without the repeal of the 16th amendment is highly repugnant.
sitetest
But its not, I don't think taxes are immoral but I do think some are better in principle than others, and I think taxing consumption rather tan production is one such choice.
I DO think that it's immoral that government at all levels exceeds 1/3 of our economy.
Common ground is nice..
But as I've said before, to me, re-distributing how you collect it is nothing more than playing musical chairs, or rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.
I can agree to that, I don't think the NSRT and the amount the government spends (except on the IRS) are connected. I do think that when a tax hike on a national sales tax is proposed dems wont be able to play the 'we only want to tax the rich' card...
That this would be passed into law and take effect without the repeal of the 16th amendment is highly repugnant.
That sounds like a moral principle..
I'd respectfully disagree. An income tax of any form gives the government first claim on your production, whereas a pure consumption tax allows the individual much more control over when and how much he is taxed. Read some of Alan Keyes' old articles and speeches -- he makes the point better than I can.
As to spending being the problem... as long as the true burden of taxes are hidden from the individual, they can easily be led to beleive that that burden is someone else's problem (usually "the rich" or "corporations"). When the true cost of government is printed on every receipt for every item they buy, that's when people are going to notice and demand something be done about it.
Is 23% of every dollar you spend too high? Absolutely. But the rate is what the rate is because of what government is doing right now. When every single American has a vested interest in seeing that rate come down, then that will be the pressure needed to cut government. Fiscal conservatives (if there are any left in government) can tell the voters that if we cut program X, then we can cut the sales tax by Y%; I suppose the coverse would be true, too, that people can be told if they want to add or expand program X, it would cost them Y% more.
Oh, man- I can't believe you said that!
Look at my home page and say it again! And y'know, I may just post that quote right there next to Hillary's if you stand by your position.